Vagrant Dickcissel in MA!

16 years ago

Now that the Project FeederWatch season has started, I took a closer look at my house sparrow population, and noticed that one of the flock had a yellow breast. Once I got a photo (on Nov. 23) I set out to identify it, and after a few blind alleys I realized it was probably a Dickcissel, which is pretty rare in Southeastern MA. This has been confirmed by various local bird gurus.

The Dickcissel is visiting the tube feeders

and a birdbath.

Here it was drinking with a cardinal and a song sparrow.

I don't see the bird every day, but I've seen it several times since November 23 and I've been told that dickcissels sometimes overwinter in MA. How long can I hold my breath?

Claire

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Comments (7)

rachel_frome_ky
16 years ago
That's so cool! I read about that particular bird on Twitter!
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
16 years ago
My bird generated a tweet? I love it.

I will probably always look at house sparrows differently now. One of them may be a princess in disguise!

Claire
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In November, 2009 I saw a bird hanging around with the House Sparrows that had a bit of yellow on it. Otherwise, it looked similar to the sparrows and fit in very well. I'm in Plymouth, MA. I finally got a few photos and after searching the guides and emailing Project FeederWatch I discovered it was a female Dickcissel. Apparently Massachusetts was part of their original range but they're not often seen here now. Here the Dickcissel (front and center with the rufous shoulder patch) is feeding with a bunch of House Sparrows. Since then I look a little suspiciously at the House Sparrows wondering what else is lurking there. I've never seen a male Dickcissel. Claire
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Jane, I'm glad that my simple words gave you comfort. The approaching evening might be a difficult time for you -- it often is for those recently (within years) bereaved. And with dusk, those birdies leave for the night -- except, do you ever notice how the cardinals are often the last to call it a day? And in the summer, those hummingbirds also come after dusk as well. Hold on, Jane. Take all the time you need and grieve how you need. Be gentle with yourself on this awful rollercoaster trip. Time does temper the heartache, but before that, it seems to take forever to find release from the crushing loss. (A friend once described the pain of grief as being also physical pain for its intensity.) But, even if someone has a miracle pill, it wouldn't really help hasten what needs to take time, reflection, remembering and tears. But remember that you are not alone in many other ways. Words are inadequate, but it's all many of us can offer. We need to offer as much as you might need to receive. Claire, I meant to tell you how much I loved those turkey shots. Beautiful. I used to have turkeys milling about, but not so much in the past couple of years. I'm curious what they are looking for on the ground (to eat?). Do you put corn or seed out for them? I just love wild turkeys. Seeing them feels like "everything's gonna be just fine" even if the world seems crazy from one week to the next. One late afternoon I got to watch a group of them fly up into a tall oak and settle in. I don't know if they stayed there all night or only until Leno was over. Susan, love those goldfinches, but you're are so yellow only their hairdresser knows for sure.
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anne_cape_cod
16 years ago
Congratulations on finding the Dickcissel ! You have me checking my little flock of House Sparrows but with no luck.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
16 years ago
I've been carefully observing the House Sparrows, but I haven't seen the Dickcissel since November 29. I hope it flew south since from what I've read it doesn't have a good chance of surviving the winter here. One reference said the lower temperature limit is -5 degrees C (23 degrees F) which gives 50% mortality.

As you know, Anne, we don't usually have very cold winters here on the coast but once winter starts, it lasts long into what is spring for most people. A long time for a cold-sensitive bird to keep shivering.

Claire
kendra2003
16 years ago
That is really awesome. It is wonderful that you managed to capture it in pictures.
janie_may
16 years ago
How exciting! Pretty little bird and one I've never seen.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
16 years ago
Kendra: The combination of the digital camera and email is still a wonder to me. Once I got the photos and had a tentative ID from my field guides, I emailed them to various people and got very quick and enthusiastic confirmation.

Janie_may: This dickcissel is probably a female, or maybe an immature male - I'd love to see the breeding male, shown at this Cornell Lab of Ornithology site..

I searched this forum to see if this was a common sighting somewhere, but found almost no reports of dickcissels. Maybe they usually stay in the grasses away from people. Some of the references said that dickcissels used to be common in agricultural fields in the east, but had disappeared by the 19th century, maybe as farm lands were abandoned or built on.

Claire

Vagrant Dickcissel in MA!

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rachel_frome_ky

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
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Vagrant Dickcissel in MA!

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rachel_frome_ky

claireplymouth z6b coastal MAOriginal Author

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claireplymouth z6b coastal MAOriginal Author

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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
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